Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater FisheriesAlabama Department of

Conservation and Natural Resources

64 North Union Street Montgomery, AL 36130

www.outdooralabama.com

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age,

gender, national origin or disability in its hiring or employment practices nor in admission to, access to, or operations of

its programs, services or activities. Funding for this project has been provided in part from the Tennessee Valley Author-

ity, a federal agency. Information on the equal opportunity obligations imposed as a result of such funding may be ob-

tained at http://www. tva.com/moreinfo/ndnotice.pdf. This document is available in alternative formats upon request.

For millions of years, the Tennessee

River has cut its way through the Cum-

berland Plateau, carving the Tennes-

see Valley, one of the most diverse and

beautiful landscapes in the south. Dense

woodlands and rich waters originally

attracted prehistoric peoples and started

the long history of the area as a com-

mercial and cultural crossroads. Civil War

battles, engineering breakthroughs, and

trading links throughout the Mississippi

Basin have all contributed to a cultural

richness which is complemented by a

diversity of birds and other wildlife.

As the habitats vary through the valley,

so do the seasons. Spring is heralded by

the return of neotropical songbirds that

utilize the forested hilltops as rest stops

on their journey northward. Summer is

fi lled with breeding woodland species

such as fl ashy Pileated and Red-headed

woodpeckers, boisterous Great-crested

Flycatchers and Carolina Wrens, and

skulking Kentucky and Swainson’s war-

blers. In the fall months, migrant water-

fowl, Sandhill Cranes, and a variety of

raptors return to spend the winter in the

valley or at least pass through on their

way farther south. Once winter’s chill

is in the air, large roosts of Bald Eagles

form and can be found with abundant

waterfowl and gulls.

Birding opportunities in North Alabama

compliment other outdoor recreational

activities including hiking, boating, fi sh-

ing, and caving.

North Alabama Birding Trail

Flock to the River Valley

For more information: (866) 238-4748, (866) 23VISIT, www.northalabamabirdingtrail.com

Landscapes in the region range from Tupelo Swamps to blazing fi elds of wildfl owers, and towering forests of oak and hickory to vast sheets of open water replete with loafi ng waterfowl.

Look for corresponding letter on map for the nearest local tourist infor-mation center. For complimentary Visitor Guide with detailed birding and site information, contact the local tourist information center or ADCNR.

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North Alabama Birding Trail

Flock to the River Valley

Visitor Map

North Alabama Tourism Association25062 North St.Mooresville, AL 35649(866) 23VISIT (84748)www.northalabama.org

Athens/Limestone County Chamber of Commerce101 Beaty St., PO Box 150Athens, AL 35612Phone: (256) 232-2600Fax: (256) 232-2609www.tourathens.com

Colbert County Tourism & Convention Bureau719 US Hwy 72 West, PO Box 740425Tuscumbia, AL 35674Phone: (256) 383-0783, (800) 344-0783Fax: (256) 383-2080 www.colbertcountytourism.org

Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce301 2nd Ave. SW, PO Box 1104Cullman, AL 35056Phone: (256) 734-0454, (800) 313-5114Fax: (256) 737-7443www.visitcullman.org

Decatur/Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau 719 6th Ave. SE, PO Box 2349Decatur, AL 35601Phone: (256) 350-2028, (800) 524-6181Fax: (256) 350-2054www.decaturcvb.org

DeKalb County Tourist Association1503 Glenn Blvd. SW, PO Box 681165Fort Payne, AL 35968Phone: (256) 845-3957, (888) 805-4740Fax: (256) 845-3946www.tourdekalb.com

Florence/Lauderdale TourismOne Hightower PlaceFlorence, AL 35630 Phone: (256) 740-4141 (888) 356-8687 Fax: (256) 740-4142 www.fl o-tour.org

Greater Jackson County Chamber of Commerce407 E. Willow Street, PO Box 973Scottsboro, AL 35768Phone: (256) 259-5500(800) 259-5508Fax: (256) 259-4447www.jacksoncountychamber.com

Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau500 Church Street, Suite 1Huntsville, AL 35801 Phone: (256) 551-2230 (800) space-4-UFax: (256) 551-2324www.huntsville.org

Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce12001 AL Hwy 157, PO Box 325Moulton, AL 35650Phone: (256) 974-1658Fax: (256) 974-2400www.lawrencealabama.com

Marshall County Convention & Visitors Bureau200 Gunter Ave.PO Box 711Guntersville, AL 35976Phone: (256) 582-7015 (800) 582-6282Fax: (256) 582-3682www.marshallcountycvb.com

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Bald Eagle/Walt Burch

Guntersville State Park/Teaming with Wildlife

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher/Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Greg W. Lasley

Snow Geese/USFWS, Gary M. Stolz

Great Blue Heron/Walt Burch

(Cover photo: Belted Kingfi sher/Alan Murphy)

Northwest Loop1. Mallard Fox Creek WMA 2. Wheeler Dam South Landing3. Joe Wheeler State Park 4. Town Creek Marsh5. Leighton Ponds6. Wilson Dam Visitor Center7. Wilson Dam Rockpile Recreation Area8. TVA Reservation9. Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge10. Natchez Trace Parkway Rock Springs Nature Trail11. Waterloo12. Natchez Trace Parkway Colbert Ferry 13. Freedom Hills WMA Walking Trail14. Bankhead National Forest - Firetower15. Bankhead National Forest - Sipsey Picnic Area

Central Loop16. Wheeler NWR Visitor Center 17. Decatur Hospitality Nature Park18. BP-Amoco Environmental Trail19. 3M Wildlife Area20. Wheeler NWR White Springs Dike 21. Swan Creek WMA22. Round Island Recreation Area23. Wheeler NWR Arrowhead Landing24. Beaverdam Peninsula Tower25. Wheeler NWR Beaverdam Swamp Boardwalk26. Wheeler NWR Blackwell Swamp27. Winfred Thomas Agricultural Research Station28. Madison County Public Lake29. Monte Sano State Park30. Hays Nature Preserve31. Wheeler NWR Cave Springs32. Hurricane Creek Park33. Wheeler NWR Dancy Bottoms

Northeast Loop34. Guntersville State Park, Town Creek & Drive35. Guntersville Peninsula36. Guntersville Dam South37. Guntersville Dam North38. Goose Pond Colony39. North Sauty Creek WMA/Sauta Cave NWR40. Roy B. Whitaker Paint Rock River Preserve41. Skyline Wildlife Management Area42. Mud Creek Wildlife Management Area43. Stevenson Town Park44. Russell Cave National Monument45. Gorham’s Bluff/Coon Gulf46. DeKalb County Public Lake47. DeSoto State Park - Azalea Cascade Trail48. Little River Canyon National Preserve Drive49. Buck’s Pocket State Park, Morgan’s Cove and South Sauty Creek 50. Murphy Hill

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UPPER BEAR CREEK LAKE

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PICKWICKLAKE

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Winfield

Elkmont

Ardmore

TownCreek

Courtland

Killen

Lexington

Vina

RedBay

GoodHope

Littleville

Leighton

Oakville

Attalla

RainbowCity

Hanceville

LeesburgCedar Bluff

Collinsville

Centre

HokesBluff

New Market

Meridianville

Normal

OwensCrossroads

Ider

Sylvania

Henagar

ValleyHead

MentoneMentoneMentone

Phil Campbell

Hackleburg

NaturalBridge

Waterloo

DoubleSprings

Priceville

HartselleGuntersville

Boaz

Moulton

RogersvilleStevenson

Bridgeport

Russellville

Hamilton

Haleyville

Arab

TuscumbiaMuscleShoals

Oneonta

Blountsville

Cullman

Guin

Sheffield

Albertville

Athens

Madison

Sulligent

Sumiton

Decatur

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Florence

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HEROES'HIGHWAY

79

To Memphis

To Tupelo

To Lawrenceburg To NashvilleState WelcomeCenter

T E N N E S S E E

To Chattanooga

To Atlanta

To Rome

LITTLE RIVER CANYON NATIONALPRESERVE

To Fayetteville

To Birmingham,Montgomery

BANKHEAD

NATIONAL

FOREST

Map base courtesy of the North Alabama Tourism Association1-800-648-5381 / www.northalabama.org

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Nashville

Louisville

Jackson

TallahasseeMobile

Birmingham

Montgomery

MemphisAtlanta

Columbia

Charlotte

Richmond

Charleston

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Mooresville

Wood Duck/William Gates Prairie Warbler/USFWS, Steve Maslowski Gorham’s Bluff/ADCNR Photos Red-headed Woodpecker/USFWS, Dave Menke